ACCENT VARIATION IN ADOLESCENTS IN ABERDEEN: FIRST RESULTS FOR (HW) AND (TH)

Thorsten Brato
Department of English, University of Giessen

This paper presents preliminary results of a major study into accent variation in a socially-stratified sample of urban adolescents in Aberdeen. The variables (hw) and (th) were analysed in word list style and reading style. The results indicate changes in progress for the first variable. The status of the second variable is yet unclear. TH-fronting was found only infrequently and seems to be restricted to some speakers.